op big pbaibie



(No Model.)

7 J.C.LAK'IE.-

-SIGN. No. 299,652. Patented-M1193, 1884..

UNITED STATE ATENT "Erica.

JOHN G. LAKE, OF BIG PRAIRIE, OHIO.

SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,652, dated June 3,1884.

Application filed J nly 24, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN O. LAKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Big Prairie, in the county of Wayne and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and usefulImprovement in Signs, of which the following isa specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to signs, and its ob- IO ject is to provide asign possessing superior advantages in point of simplicity,inexpensiveness, durability, and general efliciency over thoseheretofore made.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sign embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View of thesame. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on a longitudinalplane through the letters.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a longitudinal strip or board,preferably formed of wood, that comprises the backing of my improvedsign. The top edge ofthis strip A is protected by a longitudinal plate,B, that has a longitudinal downturned flange, O, at its rear edge, whichserves as an additional protection to the top edge of strip A bypreventing water and dirt from getting in between the said top edge andthe said plate, and also serves as a means by which the said plate issecured in position, tacks or screws D being passed through this flange0 into the strip A. The plate B presents a smooth and unobstructedsurface, and projects some distance from the face'of the sign to form aprotecting cap or flange, E, extending longitudinally and having itsouter edge turned down and under to form a D shaped edge, I, thatstrengthens and obviates accidental bending of the projecting flange E,and serves another purpose, which will be presently described.

F is a facing-plate, which is secured to the face of strip A by tacks orscrews G, and is provided at its top with a forwardly-projecting flange,H, at right angles to its main portion, which flange comes under theflange E, and has its end received by the bent edge I of said flange E.By this arrangement the top portion of the facing-plate F is retained inposition and the proj ecting protecting cap or flange formed by theflanges E and H is braced and strengthened, while either the top plate,13, or the face-plate F, can be removed for substitution or otherpurposes without disturbing the other parts. The letters J, forming thesign, are cut through the face-plate F like a stencil, and a card, K, ofthe desired color, is

arranged between the strip A and the said tion will be readilyunderstood. It is very simple, and is especially convenient andefficient, and easy of construction. I claim as my invention l. Thecombination, with the main strip or backing of the sign, of the topplate present ing the smooth top surface and having its rear edge turneddown to form a securing-flange, and its front edge projecting from thefront edge of the backing to. form a projecting cap and turned down andunder to provide a strengthening-edge, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The combination of the main strip or backing, a face-plateindependently removable from the same, and a top plate projecting fromthe front edge of the strip to form a protecting cap or flange andremovably connected to the face-plate,substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

'3. The combination of the longitudinal main strip or backing, the topplate securedthereto and projecting forwardly to form the top cap orflange, and having its extreme front edge bent down and under to form a3 shaped edge, and the face-plate secured to the face of the strip andhaving a forwardly-projecting top flange arranged at right angles to itsmain portion, and havingits edge received and retained by the 3 shapededge, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the main strip or backing, the top plate havingthe smooth top surface, the downwardlyhent rear edge by I face-plate,substantially as and for the purwhich it is secured to the rear face ofthe strip, pose set forth.

and the front projecting cap or flange having I11 testimony that I claimthe foregoing as the downwardly and under bent extreme edge my own Ihave hereto affixed my signature in 5 in I) shape, and the front platesecured to the presence of two witnesses.

face of the main strip and havin the top for- T v 7 ward flange receivedinto the doii n and under Jon} LAKL' bent edge of the top plate, andhaving the i Witnesses:

letters forming the sign out in its main por- EDWARD G. SIGGERs. 10 tionto expose a color-backing in rear of the J. REED LITTELL.

